Main Takeaways from the BRICS Summit

On July 6-7, the 17th BRICS summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2025 conference. BRICS was created as an economic organization meant to boost the emerging economies of all founding countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and eventually South Africa. However, in the past few years, Brics has invited 6 new members: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran. There were representatives from all of these eleven countries at the conference, but several notable faces did not appear, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. This raised speculation over the cohesiveness and future of BRICS. 

Yet, despite having the two most influential leaders absent from the conference, the countries were still able to make a joint statement titled “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.” This statement summarized many of BRICS past concerns plus some new ones. In regards to multilateral institutions, BRICS called for the reform of voting power in the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund while making repeated calls for Brazil and India to become permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. In regards to climate change, the countries introduced a framework of joint action. This is especially notable considering that COP30, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, will also be held in Brazil this November. The group also advocated for more international discussions over the usage of artificial intelligence.

Members of BRICS were also not afraid to make comments on contentious topics on the Middle East, specifically regarding Gaza and Iran, a member state. The joint statement criticized the US-Israel strikes on Iran. Furthermore, the group condemned Israel’s use of starvation as a tool of coercion in the Gaza strip, fully supporting the stance of the UNRWA. However, despite BRICS criticism regarding Gaza and Iran, BRICS has yet to criticize Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Beyond words written on paper, one of the more tangible proposals from the conference included the BRICS Multilateral Guarantees initiative. Similar to the World Bank’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, the initiative would prioritize investments in infrastructure and development programs across the Global South. This highlights the mission of BRICS not just to boost economies, but to also be a political counterbalance to the Western-dominated world order. The BRICS Multilateral Guarantees initiative is still in its infancy and will continue to develop from 2025 to 2026.

Indeed, BRICS feels a potent threat frin the Western World and specifically US President Donald Trump. Trump has threatened to impose 10% additional tariffs on any countries who share the “Anti-American policies of BRICS.” This comes after BRICS members had already criticized Trump’s tariffs at the summit, referring to them as a “threat.”

Overall, despite several leaders not being present, the 17th BRICS summit reflected the voice of a unified organization, prepared to tackle global issues and act as a counterbalance to the Western-lead order. While BRICS has yet to reach the status of a massive geopolitical force, its power and influence is only growing on the international stage, as demonstrated by Trump’s concerns. For now, Brazil will pass the torch of leadership to India to prepare for the 2026 BRICS summit in New Delhi, India.

Extemp Analysis by: Ty Tan

This timely question written by Jack Zhou requires a strong, grounded understanding of the nature of American hegemony.

Question: Is BRICS a threat to American hegemony? 

Background: The background on this speech is pretty straightforward. I would make it:

1. What is American Hegemony

2. BRICS growing global power

3. The possibility of it threatening American hegemony (conflict sentence)

Make sure your definition of American hegemony is a broad, global definition to allow yourself to take various points of analysis based on what BRICS is doing. 

Answer: Yes, by offering the world a vision of an Alternative World Order

1. Establishing Parallel Global Institutions

2. Challenging Dollar Dominance

3. Weakening US Soft Power in the Global South

Analysis + Concluding Thoughts

There are many possible points here, these are the three I thought were the most unique and interesting. Be sure to tie in each of your B’s to this idea of the action taken by BRICS directly threatening some aspect of American hegemony. Each of your A’s should establish a part of American hegemony, (ie western-led global institutions, the US dollar, and soft power) with the B’s signifying a step away from that Western order of business via BRICS.

Happy extemping! This question is a great evergreen I highly recommend!

Read More Here:

• Mariel Farragamo, Council on Foreign Relations

• Abid Hussein, Al-Jazeera

• Valentina Sader and Ignacio Albe, Atlantic Council

• Maiva D’Auria, BRICS

• Marcella Ayres and Bernardo Caram, Reuters

• Osmond Chia and Dearbail Jordan